The Paisano Volume 47 Issue 13

SA’s first mobile food court coming to UTSA: Page 4

Runners win home opener: Page 9

Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio

November 20, 2012

Volume 47

Issue 26

‘Yes’ to marijuana, say Colorado and Washington S e x s c a n d a l shocks CIA, “Don’t break out the director resigns Cheetos or the Goldfish Alex Camacho Staff Writer

news@paisano-online.com

too quickly.”

spent enforcing marijuana prohibition.

It would also eliminate approximately 750,000 cases of people who are arrested each year for possession which, according to the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, “is more than the total number of arrestees for all violent crimes combined such as murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault.”

In Mexico, the incoming administration plans to take the fight against See MARIJUANA, Page 2

Scott Cochran/ The Paisano

Supporters of marijuana legalization witnessed a historic moment last Tuesday when voters in Colorado and Washington state passed amendments legalizing the right to smoke marijuana without the need of a medical prescription.

Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper warned state residents on Tues-

day night, “Don’t break out the Cheetos Marijuana is already legal in 17 states or the Goldfish too quickly,” as it will for medical purposes and, according take at least a month to CNN, it is esbefore the measures timated that in are officially on the Los Angeles, there states’ agendas, and are more medical several months marijuana shops could go by before than liquor stores. legislators finish Legalization at a writing rules, tax John Hickenloper federal level could codes and the many Governor of Colorado save U.S. taxpayregulations required ers $10 billion a for creating licensed marijuana shops. year on resources that are currently

Jennifer Alejos

Formula One racing has been absent in the U.S. since 2007.

Intern

Formula 1 brings jobs, excitement to Texas in spite of funding controversy

Scott Cochran/ The Paisano

news@paisano-online.com

The Circuit of the Americas will create 6000 jobs in Texas, but may cost the state $250 million.

On Nov. 16, Austin, TX, saw its first F1 United States Grand Prix racing event at the newly opened Circuit of the Americas track. Formula 1 racing, otherwise known as F1, is a familiar sport in many regions of Europe, but has been relatively unknown to the U.S. since 2007, the last time an F1 event was held on U.S. soil.

The inaugural event, named Austin Fan Fest, was held from Nov. 16-18 in downtown Austin and included acts from Aerosmith, Cheap Trick, Flo Rida, Cobra Starship and international singer Juanes. The festival turned downtown Austin into a hotspot with its music venues, F1 car simulator stations and parties along with other interactive activities. The event was expected to host not only Austin natives, but also visitors from around the world.

The track is located 14 miles southeast of downtown Austin and runs for 3.4 miles with an elevation of 133 feet, making it accessible to 120,000 spectators.

Circuit of the Americas is much more than a track. The multi-purpose facility is expected to host educational and medical programs as well as a driving academy. As stated on its website, the facility will feature a 5,500 square foot medical center that will provide paramedic and EMS services and opportunities for students to receive medical training. A 40,000 square foot conference media center is another feature of the circuit.

The project went into development in May 2010 and construction began in December 2010. The facility encountered many roadblocks along the way, as there were rumors that production had stopped in November 2011 when contract disagreements took place.

With Red McCombs and Bobby Epstein on board as the founding partners, the production of the facility took off and now, it humbly rests in the town of Elroy, which is a few miles away from

Austin.

Lately, the biggest controversy surrounding the Circuit of the Americas is whether the Texas Comptroller Susan Combs had the right to green-light its production without the public’s approval. According to the Texas Tribune, it is illegal to approve an article without proper consideration by all parties.

According to the Texas Tribute, Combs agreed to pay back a sum of $250 million within the next 10 years.

Now, the city of Austin must make arrangements to pay back its first installment of $25 million from the Major Events Trust Fund in the form of a tax subsidy. The percentage of sales tax revenue that was accumulated from tourism will influence the payment amount.

Opponents of the tax subsidy payment include those who are affiliated with the Tea Party. They argue that the attraction is a threat to other programs that are facing the possibility of being cut and suffer from insufficient funding. Supporters of the Circuit of the Americas contend that the facility will increase tourism and boost the economy.

Media and Community Relations Manager Ali Putnam said that the facility has created over 300 full-time jobs in Austin, as well as an additional 3,000 jobs for seasonal and event specific employees. “In total, Circuit of the Americas is expected to create more than 6,000 jobs,” said Putnam.

Opening weekend of the event sold over 110,000 tickets, with 60 percent sold to buyers out of Texas, 40 percent to local buyers and 15 percent to international buyers.

UTSA student Jesse Sanchez said that he wished he could have gone to the event. “It seemed really cool,” said Sanchez. “I’ve been going to the events at the San Antonio Raceway for awhile now, but I’m glad that Austin has something new to bring to the table.”

For those who were unable to grab one of these esteemed seats, there are more projects expected to be held in the spring, including V8 supercar and motorsports series events.

David Glickman News Assistant

news@paisano-online.com On Nov. 9, David Petraeus, retired four-star-Army general, resigned from his position as director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), a move that shocked many and appeared to come out of nowhere. In his resignation letter, Petraeus cited “extremely poor judgment by engaging in an extramarital affair. Such behavior is unacceptable, both as a husband and as the leader of an organization such as ours.

This afternoon, the president graciously accepted my resignation.”

The affair came to light after the FBI investigation “discovered 20,000-30,000 emails between Petraeus and Paula Broadwell,” reported CNN. Broadwell had been Petraeus’ biographer, and had worked with the former director for several months and released the book “All In” in January 2012.

Petraeus did not deny the affair when the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) confronted him upon their discovery of the scandal. Petraeus, who gained widespread recognition for commanding U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, posted his resignation almost immediately, according to the Washington Post.

The situation became more complex with the involvement of Jill Kelley. Kelley, a “volunteer military social liaison,” according to CNN, was a close friend to the Petraeus family. After receiving anonymous, threatening emails, Kelley alerted the FBI, who then investigated and discovered that Broadwell was sending the emails. The FBI investigation revealed emails between Broadwell and Petreaus, and, through further investigation, a large amount of emails between Kelly and Marine Gen. John Allen, who succeeded Petraeus to become the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan and was in line to be Supreme Allied Commander in Europe.

Furthermore, worry of a possible security breach is at the center of the controversy with Petraeus and the various other people involved. Petraeus has stated repeatedly that he has not leaked any classified information. Despite his claim, police and the FBI launched an investigation of Broadwell, according to The New York Times. Examining her laptop and Broadwell herself, the FBI concluded that no classified information was discovered or appeared to be leaked.

Congressional leaders have also pressured Petraeus, the CIA and the FBI. Outside of the security breach, questions have been raised as to when the FBI discovered the affair and why Congress was not notified sooner. Rep. Peter King, chairman of the Congressional National Security Committee, in particular, has vocalized his criticism of the situation, saying elements of the story “didn’t add up.”

“I don’t think this is going to affect anything that is going on the ground,” said Jesus Cuevas, former specialist, Army medic and current UTSA student. Having served under Petraeus’ command in the Army for two tours between 2006 and 2010, Cuevas is not worried about the scandal compromising the military in any way. “I think everyone knows what the mission is and how to accomplish it. This [scandal] might have happened, but it’s not going to change what happened and what’s going on,” Cuevas stated.

News

The Paisano November 20, 2012 2 Puerto Ricans in favor of MARIJUANA: Economic impact stretches across the border; Texas would require legislation becoming 51st state Lictor Prianti Staff Writer

news@paisano-online.com On Nov. 6, Puerto Ricans voted in favor of the possibility of becoming the 51st state of America. The decision would affect the future of Puerto Rico, a commonwealth of the U.S. whose people cannot vote in federal elections.

According to Univision Puerto Rico, of the roughly 1.8 million Puerto Rican voters, 53.99 percent voted in favor of altering the status of the island as a commonwealth, while 46.01 percent opposed the change.

Puerto Ricans responded to change the status of the island, with 61.05 percent in favor of “statehood,” joining the U.S. as a state. However, 33.31 percent voted to remain “semi-autonomous” as a U.S. territory and 5.53 percent of Puerto Ricans voted for “indepen-

From Page 1

dence,” to become its own country independent of their governing neighbor to the north, according to Univision Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico has been a U.S. territory since 1898 when the U.S. and Spain signed the Treaty of Paris. The treaty mandated that Spain surrender Puerto Rico, the Philippines and Cuba to the U.S. Since then, Puerto Rico has been an unincorporated territory of the Union and, since 1952, an associated commonwealth.

Now that the people have voted, there are two steps before Puerto Rico achieves statehood. First, recently elected Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla must send a letter to Congress asking for Puerto Rico’s integration as a state.

Then, the U.S. government must pass the legislation to declare Puerto Rico the 51st state of the Union.

drugs in a new direction. According to the Washington Times, Luis Videgaray Caso, a key advisor to President-elect Enrique Peña Nieto, stated, “although the U.S. is beginning to take new measures, the president continues to oppose legalization.”

Other Mexican voices are wondering if keeping drugs illegal is the best policy for the country. According to the Economist, the Mexico City-based think tank, Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMCO), argued that legalization would greatly damage the drug cartels. IMCO estimated that Mexican drug organizations earn $2 billion per year from marijuana sales and 70 percent of that income is directly related to marijuana going into the U.S. They speculate that locally grown marijuana in Washington and particularly Colorado would drive down the price of marijuana. Lower prices will most likely drive U.S. marijuana users who

currently depend on Mexican exports to switch to locally grown plants. Less money and power to Mexican drugs

“In Texas, unlike Colorado people cannot place ballot initiatives...[A similar policy] would have to go through the state Legislature.”

Dr. Patricia Jaramillo Public policy expert

cartels would bring higher levels of safety to border states including Texas.

Public policy expert and UTSA professor Dr. Patricia Jaramillo said she was

not surprised that the policy passed.

She attributed this to the fact that Colorado residents need to pre-register with a party before voting and most of the time, there is roughly an equal number of Democrats, Republicans and Independents.

“In Texas, unlike Colorado, people cannot place ballot initiatives. In order for a similar policy to the ones in Colorado or Washington to be considered in Texas, it would have to go through the state Legislature,” Jaramillo stated.

In spite of the votes in Colorado and Washington, marijuana is still illegal under federal law, leaving the long-term legality of the initiatives up in the air. Jaramillo believes that it is still unknown territory and that we must wait to see how the federal government acts before implementation of the policy can actually be evaluated in Texas.

Austin votes to create $4.1 billion UT system medical school David Smith Intern

news@paisano-online.com On Election Day, the voters of Austin’s Central Health District passed Proposition 1, which will raise funds for a new medical school and an accompanying teaching hospital at the University of Texas at Austin.

“This is a historic night for Austinites, the UT community and world-changing medical research,” said UT President Bill Powers in a statement on Nov. 6. “I’m thrilled and grateful that Central Health residents voted to invest in health care and to help us move ahead with a UT Austin medical school.”

The new medical school is reported by the Austin American-Statesman to

cost an estimated $4.1 billion over 12 years. The Seton Healthcare Family, which operates the University Medical Center at Brackenridge, will contribute $250 million to the construction of the medical school and the accompanying teaching hospital.

The Daily Texan reported that the UT System Board of Regents pledged $25 million per year with an additional $5 million per year for eight years.

Proposition 1 will increase the property taxes of Central Health residents from 7.89 cents to 12.9 cents per $100 of property value to help cover costs of operations at the teaching hospital.

Lawsuits have been brought against the proposition and its opposition is demanding a recount on the grounds that the wording on the ballot violated

the Voting Rights Act. Judge Lee Yeakel is presiding over the case and a ruling on the matter is expected on Thursday, Nov. 22.

The new medical school will be the 10th in Texas.

“It really gives an advantage to premed students at UTSA,” Alvand Sehat, president of the UTSA Pre-Med Society said, “because it increases the number of applicants who can get into med school in Texas.”

Sehat explained how, in Texas, it is mandated that 90 percent of a medical school’s student body must be legal Texas residents. Thus, pre-med students are mostly competing against other Texas applicants. Therefore, having another medical school in Texas will increase matriculation rates. Last

year, UTSA matriculated 30 of its 72 pre-med graduates, its highest rate yet.

Texas has one of the lowest medical doctors per capita rates in the country and this school should help to increase that rate.

Sehat explained, “By training Texas pre-med students to become doctors in Texas, it will increase the retention rate.

The goal is to keep physicians in Texas.”

These teaching hospitals are where doctors go for their residency. Sehat explained that building new schools without new teaching hospitals simply makes residencies more competitive.

If more doctors are graduating but are not accepted into residencies, then they cannot practice and it will not increase the number of physicians in the state.

Having more teaching hospitals in Tex-

as means that fewer doctors will fulfill their residency requirement out of state, as doctors tend to practice where they complete their residency.

There are also advantages for nonpre-med students at UTSA. “A new medical school basically means new jobs,” Sehat said. Medical schools are also medical research institutions.

“Graduate students here at UTSA in the college of science or engineering or wherever...can go and work at the research labs where they research things like new medical technologies and pharmaceuticals,” Sehat said.

The UT Austin medical school is set to open in 2015 with a charter class of 50 medical students.

November 20, 2012

The Paisano

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The Paisano

November 20, 2012

Rachel Baillie / The Paisano

Photo courtesy of Jon Onstead

The Block: bringing variety to students

The empty lot (left) shows the The Block as it exists now. A rendering (right) shows how the lot will look upon its completion in March of 2013. The Block will be located at the corner of UTSA Blvd. and Roadrunner Way.

Jonathan Pillow

Intern paseo@paisano-online.com A local businessman and UTSA alumnus Jon Onstead has recently broken ground in the construction of The Block, a new mobile food court. The owner of The Block, Onstead, said that as a student he noticed a lack of interesting eating options near the UTSA main campus and now hopes his mobile food court will introduce some variety to the diets of UTSA students.

The Block, located on the corner of UTSA Blvd. and Roadrunner Way, is projected to open early in March of 2013.

It will feature a bar and patio area, seven hubs for local food trucks and a permanent kitchen space which will house Chela’s Tacos, a popular San Antonio taco truck. Onstead plans to host a variety of events at his food court including

movie screenings, eating competitions and live music.

“Once a week, we’ll do a movie night where students, or anyone who is interested, will be able to go to the website or Facebook page and vote on movies that they want to see,” says Onstead. “We want the student’s involvement, as far as telling us what they want to watch there, what they want to listen to music-wise and what they want to eat there.”

Regarding which food trucks will be featured at The Block, Onstead has spoken to some of the top food trucks in San Antonio and Austin. Although no food trucks have officially signed leases yet, Onstead is confident that when The Block opens in 2013, it will have a strong lineup of vendors.

“Some of the top food trucks in the state are going to be a part of it,” says Onstead. “We’re not just selecting from San Antonio, we’re selecting from food trucks

10 tips to save money on food

out of Austin that want to branch off into the San Antonio market. We’re looking for quality and variety- we don’t want to have three Korean barbecue joints there.

Because our concept has generated a lot of interest, we can be selective with the trucks we want to have there.”

Chela’s owner, Martin Davis, said that he intends to become a permanent resident at The Block.

“I’ve got a contract with the guy [Onstead] to build me a kitchen,” says Davis.

“It’s gonna be a small kitchen, but big by my trailer’s standards, so we’re gonna be able to be open earlier for breakfast and stay open later.”

Moving from a food truck to a brickand-mortar kitchen should give Davis’ already successful business an opportunity to flourish. When operating out of his truck, he is limited by a low storage capacity and an obligation to report to a commissary every day, where he dumps

dirty water and grease and refills with fresh water.

At The Block, Davis will have plumbing and storage space so that he can continue service uninterrupted and even increase his menu.

“Because I’ll have more cooking facilities, we’ll be able to expand on the basic menu,” says Davis. “We do really good pozole and menudos. We’re probably going to do some different types of chili.

We’re gonna be able to expand and do a little bit more of a full mexican menu.”

According to Onstead, all food trucks that lease at The Block will have access to potable water and a place to dump sewage on-site, will be able to park their trucks on-site overnight and will have the option to rent additional storage space.

“Basically, it’s the closest thing to a brick-and-mortar for a food truck,” says Onstead.

When Onstead first had the idea for

Weigh the Waste: the impact of wasted food

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, women 19-50 years old spend $251.40 monthly on food, while men 19-50 spend about $292.80. Erin Boren of the Paisano elaborates on how to save money when planning meals.

clear bucket so that students may leave the café with some understanding of how much food they waste. Student Many students do not realize how much food they waste on a regular basis. volunteers collect waste Philip Taele from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. for lunch Contributing Writer and from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on a paseo@paisano-online.com weekly basis. More than 50 pounds of waste is collected during the lunch Aramark Dining Services and sev- hour, showcasing an incredible visual eral student organizations (The Green of how much waste is accumulated Society, The Movement and Roadrun- daily. Students are disgusted and surners for Renewable Resources) have prised when they see the waste comtaken steps to increase awareness of piled over time by other students. food waste with their initiative, Weigh High amounts of waste also impede the Waste.

Aramark’s charity program to deliver Aramark Sustainability Coordina- packaged food to the San Antonio tor Haley Diamond describes the pur- Food Bank, a philanthropic effort to pose of the Weigh the Waste project avoid the expiration of foods in storas a demonstration to show students age. But according to Diamond, the how much food is wasted. Diamond students who request and accept servstates that the problem is not unique ings of food that they cannot finish can to UTSA and the local community but hinder these donations. “If a chef has is relevant on a global scale. Accord- to unwrap a tray of chicken to serve ing to the National Resource Defense one student, that entire tray of chicken Council, Americans waste 40 percent is no longer allowed to be donated to of the food supply annually. the SA Food Bank,” claims Diamond.

The Roadrunner Café, a buffet-style This limits Aramark’s donating power. restaurant on campus, is an ideal locaAnother approach to sustainability tion to facilitate Weigh the Waste and that students can exercise is the Eco measure a sample of food waste pro- To-Go option which allows students duced by students at UTSA. Students to grab breakfast, lunch or dinner and who are on meal plans provided by pack it into a portable, green container.

Aramark frequently stop by the café This allows students more flexibility to between classes. Inside the restaurant, not only choose where they can eat, students drop off unfinished food by but when they want to eat, without the dishwashing station with the rest having to worry about food waste. of their dishes. Weigh the Waste volResponses to Weigh the Waste unteers collect the leftover food from range from full support to disgust and students and compile the waste into a frustration by students at the sight of Philip Taele/ The Paisano

• Ask for happy hour deals • Order appetizers or specials • Opt for water instead of a soda • Sign up for restaurant emails • Make your own meals • Buy the generic brand at grocery stores • Plan meals in advance • Stock up on staples such as pasta • Save leftovers so that no food is wasted • Bring snacks from home to avoid binge eating on campus

The Block, the city of San Antonio didn’t have the necessary laws in place to regulate mobile food courts. In order to bring his concept to fruition, Onstead had to push for changes in the city code, which would accommodate the establishment of mobile food courts.

“Basically, I discovered that there weren’t any laws for private property owners who wanted food trucks on their property,” says Onstead, “...We started writing letters to the city and to the health department saying, ‘this is what we’d like to do.’”

Approximately six months later, the City Council passed the necessary amendments to the City Code.

“I know what the student body wants,” says Onstead, “because that’s what I wanted. We want a cool place to hang out and either study or get entertained, and eat great food, and not just food from chains, but local food made with fresh ingredients. I know that when I was in school at UTSA I would have loved to have a place like this to go to.”

Some students, however, disagree with Onstead’s vision.

“I think they should use the lot for something a lot more useful than food trucks”, says senior information systems major and Outpost resident Taylor Konigsmart.

When asked what he would rather have next door to his apartments, Konigsmart replied, “a police station.”

According to Onstead, growing schools like UTSA need nearby places where students can have fun as a community. This is what he hopes The Block will be for UTSA. “It’s creating a great environment for students to relax or chill in, to dine in or to be entertained,” says Onstead. “I’m trying to bring a little bit of that culture to UTSA.”

the wasted food. Volunteers who participated in the project experienced hostility from students. Victoria Steele, senior public relations director for the Student Government Association was shocked that “people would throw away food and get seconds,” even after seeing how much food was wasted.

Participants involved with the project continue to make strides to increase awareness of food waste. Weigh the Waste has existed for two years, but the difficulty in educating students on these issues lies in the reality that, with a new set of students each semester, relationships between students and their understanding of food waste are hard to build.

Due to the high volume, the waste also becomes difficult to manage. This is a problem that extends far beyond the capabilities of Aramark Dining Services and the participating registered student organizations. “Just because it is all you can eat doesn’t mean you have to fill your plate every time and waste food,” Diamond expresses.

She continues by adding, “while you’re not being charged for the food you waste, it is important for students to realize that it is still making a big impact on the cost of their meal plans.”

The difficulty brought forth by the excess food waste has prevented Aramark from lowering the cost of meal plans in order to compensate for the growing food waste.

While Weigh the Waste has shown how much food is being wasted, the on-campus dining service has come to the conclusion that any significant change must come from a collective student demand.

The Paisano

November 20, 2012

The Paisano Editor-in-Chief: Katy Schmader

Managing Editor: Stephen Whitaker

News Editor:

Matthew Duarte

News Assistants: Natalie Frels David Glickman

Paseo Editor: Sarah Gibbens

Paseo Assistant: Corey Franco

Arts Editor:

Erica Cavazos

Arts Assistants: Valeria Perez Jennifer Alejos

Sports Editor: Rex Castillo

Sports Assistant: Sheldon Baker

Photo Editor:

Alyssa Gonzales

Photo Assistant: Will Tallent

Ads Manager: Kevyn Kirven

Business Manager: Jenelle Duff

Web Assistants: Magalieh Acosta Amanda Dansby

Senior Copy Editor: Alyssa Torres

Staff:

Daniel Crotty, Victor Hernandez, Valeria Rodriguez, Katy Glass, Valeria Perez, Bridget Gaskill, Hector Torres, Christina Coyne, Randy Lopez, Lictor Prianti, Alex Camacho

Contributing Staff:

Chris Butler, Julian Montez, Ethel Asberry, Leann Acuna, John Poplawski, Council Royal, Eliana Briceno, Marialuisa Bianchi, Ross Hutchinson, Erin Boren, Scott Cochran, Rachel Corbelli, Philip Taele

Interns:

Jennifer Alejos, Lorilee Merchant, Jonathan Pillow, David Smith

Advisor:

Diane Abdo

Advisory Board:

Steven Kellman, Mansour El Kikhia, Jack Himelblau, Sandy Norman The Paisano is published by the Paisano Educational Trust, a nonprofit, tax exempt, educational organization. The Paisano is operated by members of the Student Newspaper Association, a registered student organization. The Paisano is NOT sponsored, financed or endorsed

by UTSA. New issues are published every Tuesday during the fall and spring semesters, excluding holidays and exam periods. All revenues are generated through advertising and donations. Advertising inquiries and donations should be directed towards:

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Editorial

Opinion

UTSA should be about more than just Tier 1status

UTSA has an excellent vision for the future. By achieving Tier 1 status, UTSA hopes to bring national recognition to the university in academics and research.

This recognition is sure to benefit future students, but what about current students?

In an attempt to secure its future, UTSA may be ignoring the core of any university – its students.

Today’s students want compe-

tent advising—trained and informed academic advisors to guide students through a four-year degree plan. Students want help, in order to avoid spending unnecessary tuition money on courses that do not fit their degree plan.

Today’s students want to attend a university with a low student-to-faculty ratio, a university where professors know them, and are available to assist in their success. Compared to UT

Austin and Texas State, UTSA has the highest student-to-faculty ratio (UT Austin 18:1, Texas State 20:1, UTSA 24:1). Students want a seat in the classes they are enrolled in, and the ability to register for the classes they need more easy.

Students want to feel as though they are part of a community with meaningful traditions. It is in the university’s best interest to establish a thriving student population that carries on the

traditions of the student body.

Students want more leisure space that would enable them to meet new people, a place to relax between and after classes: green space, sand courts and 24-hour coffee shops.

Achieving Tier 1 is important, but this goal is only a sliver of the much larger picture. A successful university is one that is attentive to all its students, current and future.

Commentary If at first you do secede, don’t try it again 150 years later Not since the early months of 1861 has the issue of states seceding from the United States been as prevalent in the public discourse as it has been in the past week.

Those months correspond to the time period that 11 states in the south, stretching from Virginia to Texas, seceded from the U.S. and formed their own country, the Confederate States of America. Four years of Civil War followed, and about 700,000 Americans lost their lives deciding the fate of our republic.

Secession, it seemed, was decided, once and for all, with the Civil War. That was until someone in Texas started a petition on the “We The People” section of the White House website asking President Obama to allow Texas to remove itself from the union of states. The petition section stipulates that for a petition to get a response from the White House it must get 25,000 signatures within 30 days.

Texas is not the only state to petition, though it is the state with the most signatures.

In 1866, the United States made peace with Texas and the other 10 Confederate States readmitted to the union following the Civil War. It was expressly written “That it is the manifest determination of the American people that no state, of its own will, has a right or power to go out of or separate itself from, or be separated from the American Union; and that, therefore, each State ought to remain and constitute an integral part of the United States.”

The states have no right to secede legally,but that doesn’t mean they cannot petition and let their grievances be known.

As of Nov. 15, that petition had garnered over 100,000 signatures and spurred others like it to be drawn up in all 50 states. The number of signatures varies from large numbers in states such as Texas and Louisiana to small numbers in states like Vermont and Maine.

The most interesting state outside of Texas is Oregon, which expressed in its secession petition that it wanted to be allowed to “vote on and leave the Union peacefully and remain an ally to the nation.” Since the petitions began, 675,000 Americans have signed in all 50 states.

Letter to the Editor Secessionists are cowards In the world of politics, few things are more pernicious than false information and sloganeering. When I moved to Texas in 2009 I was well aware of the independent streak that ran through the state; after all, my maternal grandmother was born in Minerva, Texas, a die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan. She was one of the loveliest, most polite ladies I was privileged to know.

After setting off for my course of studies here at UTSA, I started to notice a few things that distressed me; the “Drive Friendly” signs I remember from my youth were mostly gone, the Dallas Cowboys were a mediocre shade of their former selves, and the politics had shifted from common sense independence to the odd brand of tea party crazy that has yielded some of the most unpleasant people ever elected to public office.

Three things are important to Texans; loyalty, patriotism, and political independence. How has my grandmother’s beloved Texas become the symbol of the worst variety of rabid anti-intellectualism? How has common sense Texas come to embrace the fact free brand of politics that is most exemplified by Governor Rick Perry, Lt. Governor David Dewhurst, and the freshly elected Tea Party Senator Ted Cruz? I used to laugh at the bumper stickers with the Lone Star that featured a single word and an exclamation point, (SECEDE!) now 60,000 of our fellow Texans are demanding secession for real and in non-polite terms. This once polite state has come to the edge of insanity all because of political differences within our great union, not Texas, but the United States of America. Every state and citizen

have the same set of inalienable rights according to our Constitution, those of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The Bill of Rights allows Freedoms of Speech, Religion, and Free Association. What the Bill of Rights does not guarantee is that you get your way at the ballot box. I say this to those 60,000 misguided Texans, you are embarrassing us. When the United States goes to war, many thousands of our Texan sons and daughters go and fight for our country without complaint or expectation of recognition, why do they do that? Because they are patriots, they believe in the idea that the United States is a special place and that all of trials and tribulations make it better. We are all Americans; liberal and conservative, religious and not religious, Republican and Democrat.

I could say that I am angry, but that would not be accurate. I am disappointed. Disappointed that some of our fellow Texans are ready to quit, to “cut and run,” it is the worst sort of cowardice. I say to Texans of all political ideologies it is time for us all to remember our civility, Americans are stronger together. Politics and political campaigns have come to consume us, it is time for us to get behind our president (whether you like him or not) and work together to make our country better together. If praying for his success makes you feel better, please do.

I am not asking you to change your politics, I am asking you to get behind your country.

It says something about our country today that nearly as many people sign petitions to break up the country as died in the conflict that nearly succeeded in creating two nations on the American continent.

The Texas petition to the White House argued that “Given that the state of Texas maintains a balanced budget and is the 15th largest economy in the world, it is practically feasible for Texas to withdraw from the union, and to do so would protect its citizens’ standard of living and re-secure their rights and liberties in accordance with the original ideas and beliefs of our founding fathers which are no longer being reflected by the federal government.”

Secession mania is not limited to states. Citizens of Austin started a petition asking the president to let them stay in the union if Texas were to secede. Citizens in other state capitals, notably Atlanta, GA and Sacramento, CA, have also started petitions to remain in the union if their respective states secede.

Have things gotten so bad in the United States that every state is petitioning to secede? It may just be that the states are blowing smoke, but we must consider the possibility that

something needs to be fixed in the government if every state has a secession petition on the White House website.

I know we just had an election and some people might not like the way it turned out, but did we not learn from our country’s last experience with secession? If we don’t learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it. I don’t mean to say another Civil War will happen but considering that was the result the last time secession was this popular, that seems likely.

I understand that people are upset with the state of the country but the answer is not dissolving a union in the defense of which 1,326,612 men and women have given their lives since 1775.

The answer is to get back to doing what worked, rising above political parties, coming together in compromise, rolling up sleeves and doing the hard work that is required by all members of a republican democracy.

Only then will we be able to start the process of fixing our country.

Stephen Whitaker Managing Editor

Comics

Vulpes Vulpes by: Christopher R Garcia

Alternative Reality by: Michael Carroll

Jeff Cisneros History graduate student

Follow us on Twitter @ThePaisano Next Meeting Wednesday Nov. 27.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Paisano

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Arts&Life

The Paisano

November 20, 2012

‘The Nutcracker’

Local Events:

The classic ballet returns to enchant SA

Tuesday, Nov. 20 9 a.m. Exhibit: “Arte Chihuahua”

Alex Camacho

The Institute of Texan Cultures (801 E César Chávez) presents “Arte Chihuahua,” which showcases the work of 25 renowned artists from Mexico, specifically Cd. Juarez, Chihuahua. A selection of 32 photographic prints, paintings and five sculptures will be on display. This exhibit will run through May 5. Tickets range from $6 - $8.

Contributing Writer arts@paisano-online.com

Wednesday, Nov. 21 6 p.m. Special Event: “STREAT Food on Broadway” The Revolution Room (8123 Broadway) will serve as a venue for the special event, STREAT Food on Broadway. An assortment of food trucks will be gathered for the public to come and enjoy. There will be happy hour pricing on drinks, and trucks will serve until 2 a.m.

Thursday, Nov. 22 9 a.m. Museum Exhibit: “IndiVisible” African-Native American Lives in the Americas Will Tallent

The dance of the sugar plum fairy, as well as the Spanish, Arabian, Chinese and Russian dances have lightened our Christmases for many years. All of these are scenes from possibly the popular ballet, “The Nutcracker.”

“The Nutcracker” is an adaptation of E.T.A. Hoffmann’s short story “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King.” The score was composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and premiered in St. Petersburg, Russia in 1892.

Although this two-act ballet has been around for more than 100 years, it was not a success until the late 1960s. Today, numerous ballet companies feature it nationwide during the Christmas season.

The story begins on Christmas Eve when Clara and Fritz’s family hosts a party to decorate the most beautiful Christmas tree imaginable.

As the party progresses, the children’s godfather, Drosselmeyer, who is also a talented magician and toymaker, arrives and brings gifts to the children.

The gift he brings to Fritz is nice, but it doesn’t come close to Clara’s beautiful nutcracker. Fritz quickly becomes jealous of her sister and breaks her nutcracker. Thankfully, Drosselmeyer is there to immediately repair it.

As the night continues and the guests depart, Clara continues to be worried about her nutcracker, but she manages to sneak back to the tree to make sure he is doing fine.

She eventually falls asleep with him in her arms. As the clock strikes midnight, the most amazing thing begins to happen. The toys around Clara, including the Nutcracker, come to life.

The room fills with an army of mice led by the evil Mouse King.

The Mouse King and the Nutcracker begin to battle one another, but the Nutcracker seems to be no rival for the Mouse King.

Clara comes to the rescue and throws her slipper at the Mouse King who then falls to the floor lifeless.

The Nutcracker in return turns into a Prince and takes Clara on an

amazing journey through the Land of Snowflakes and the Kingdom of Sweets.

The Prince and Clara arrive to the Kingdom of Sweets where the Sugar Plum Fairy greets them. The Prince tells the Fairy about their war against the Mouse King, and she rewards them with a celebration of many dances.

The Sugar Plum Fairy and her cavalier come to dance as the Prince and Clara wave goodbye.

The San Antonio Ballet Company, in collaboration with the San Antonio Orchestra, will present “The Nutcracker” in the Majestic Theatre, Nov. 23 - 25 and Nov. 30 – Dec. 2.

Tickets run from $26 to $40. Join the San Antonio Ballet Company for an unforgettable experience this holiday season.

Stephanie Barbosa Contributing Writer

arts@paisano-online.com

When the iconic Woodlawn TheatWhen the iconic Woodlawn Theatre opened on Aug.17, 1946, in the Deco District of San Antonio, no one anticipated that it would eventually become the home of a non-profit organization directed toward the preservation of theatre and the arts.

Now owned by Kurt and Sherry Wehner, the Woodlawn Theatre is on its way to being declared a state landmark by the Historic and Design Review Commission. According to Sherry Wehner, the theater is in the process of becoming an official state landmark by as of November 2012.

After that, the new goal is to become a national landmark.

In 2006, Jonathan Pennington leased the theatre under Amphisphere Productions and restored the theatre to stage popular plays and musicals, such as “Rent” and “Sweeney Todd.” Earlier this year, Kurt and Sherry Wehner bought the theatre.

Since March 2012, they’ve been operating the theatre as a non-profit organization, Woodlawn Theatre, Inc. Through obtaining 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, the theatre is allowed to receive donations to fund its programs.

Sherry Wehner says, “It was impossible for us to provide quality shows and educational programs on the funds provided by ticket sales alone.”

One of the programs includes the Woodlawn Academy for the Performing Arts, a children’s program which promises to “enrich, entertain and enlighten” participating children, whether they enjoy working in front of or behind the curtain.

Since the theatre has come under new ownership, many improvements and renovations have been made to restore it. In addition to the interior being painted, the lobby has been remodeled, the space next to the theatre has been converted into a blackbox theatre for more intimate shows, and the dressing rooms have been restructured. In addition, the exterior is getting a much-needed boost.

“The entire outside of the building

will be repainted and new signage and awnings will be installed. All the façade improvements will attract more businesses to the area,” says Sherry Wehner. In addition, one of the most noticeable restorations will be the marquis, which hasn’t been running in over 40 years.

The deco-style theatre was designed by renowned architect John Eberson, who also designed San Antonio’s Majestic Theatre. When the Woodlawn Theatre first opened, it was used to screen Hollywood movies in a single auditorium. Since then, it has had a very rich and diverse history of events and owners.

In 1960, country western star John Wayne hosted the world premiere of his film, “The Alamo” at the Woodlawn. The theatre had been closed until John Santikos, owner of Santikos Theaters, spruced up the theatre in the early ‘70s by making much needed repairs and converting the balcony into a second theatre for more movie screenings.

The Woodlawn Theatre was also the premiere location for Paramount’s famous Laser Spectacular show in 1986, which featured a colorful laser light show choreographed to the music of Pink Floyd. In the ‘80s, the theatre was mostly used to as a concert venue for jazz and blues bands, as well as touring rock bands such as Sonic Youth, the Butthole Surfers and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

November has been hectic for the Woodlawn Theatre. Sarah Ruhl, a Pulitzer-nominee, is running a month-long rendition of “Eurydice.”

The show includes Ruhl’s take on the legend of Eurydice and her relationship with Orpheus. Woodlawn’s last showing of “Eurydice” will be on Friday, Nov. 23.

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W o o d l a w n T h e a t r e O n e o f S A’s t h e a t e r g e m s h a s a h i s t o r y

The Institute of Texan Cultures will explore the dual African-American and Native American ancestry in their exhibit “IndiVisible: African-Native American Lives in the Americas.” This exhibit will remain open through Nov. 25. Tickets range $6 - $8.

Friday, Nov. 23 7:30 p.m. Theatre: “A Christmas Story” The Woodlawn Theatre (1920 Fredericksburg Rd) presents “A Christmas Story,” the tale of Ralpie Parker and his attempt to get the best Christmas present of all—a Red Ryder B.B. gun.

The production will continue until Dec. 23. Tickets are $15 - $50. For more information visit <woodlawntheatre.com>.

Saturday, Nov. 24 10 a.m. Exhibit: “A Wild & Vivid Land: Stories of South Texas” The Witte Museum (3801 Broadway) brings the old-west back with its exhibit, “A Wild & Vivid Land: Stories of South Texas.” The exhibit displays the scenes of cowboys and their journey into the rustic land with realistic features. Over 100,000 guests have visited the exhibit, so don’t be left out. Admission is $7 - $10.

6 p.m. Theater: “El Rancho Misterioso”

Fools Entertainment presents a murder-mystery dinner party at Mamcita’s (8030 IH-10 West).

Join a family on their journey as they unravel the mystery behind the deaths of their maids. The dinner will include a salad and an entrée alongside a non-alcoholic drink. Guests may choose from a select menu that features Mamacita’s Salad Tacos al Carbon Chicken Fajitas Combinacion de Res Enchiladas as an entrée. Tickets are $39.95.

Sunday, Nov. 25 10 a.m. Gallery: “InterPlay” The Southwest School of Art (300 Augusta) presents “InterPlay: Mechanical Objects,” an exhibit that allows spectators to become a part of the action. Guests are encouraged to play with the objects and explore their meaning. The exhibit features work from artists based in the U.S. and U.K. Admission is free.

Fo r t h e we e k’s f u l l c a l e n da r, v i s i t : www.paisano-online.com

The Paisano

November 20, 2012

Sports

UTSA sur vives Idaho comeback for seventh win Sports Editor

sports@paisano-online.com The Roadrunners triumphed over the Idaho Vandals for their seventh win of the season 34-27 on Saturday, Nov. 10 in Moscow, Idaho.

UTSA outlasted a Vandals’ 24 point second half to guarantee the ‘Runners a winning record this season.

“The character of a team is to find a way to win. I was happy we were able to do that despite the comeback,” Head Coach Larry Coker said.

Quarterback Eric Soza threw for 232 passing yards and gained 89 rushing yards along with three rushing touchdowns in Moscow.

Running back David Glasco II gained 58 rushing yards and scored one touchdown for the ‘Runners in the victory.

From the beginning, the Roadrunners offense was firing on all Eric Soza (pictured above at Rice) rushed for three touchdowns and threw for 232 passing yards in UTSA’s road victory over Idaho cylinders, especially on the ground.

After gaining possession of the ball The ‘Runners offense stormed to the ners lead. Vandals kicker Farquhar due to the coin toss, the ‘Runners Idaho 10-yard line but couldn’t come tried to nail another field goal, but this didn’t waste anytime scoring points. away with a touchdown. UTSA kicker time from 59 yards away but the ball Glasco struck first with a 15-yard run Sean Ianno struck a 27-yard field goal stopped short of the uprights. through the Vandals defense. Soza and extended the UTSA lead to 10-0 The Vandals defense hijacked the dashed through the defense on the with 4:27 left in the quarter.

‘Runners offensive momentum for a next snap with an 11-yard run of his Despite falling behind early, the moment when linebacker Sua Tuala own. At 12:05, Soza plowed through Vandals offense started to gain mo- caused Glasco to fumble the ball on Idaho defenders nine yards into the mentum against the UTSA defense in the UTSA 39-yard line. Idaho defenendzone for his first touchdown and the closing minutes of the first quarter. sive end Maxx Forde fell on top of the gave the ‘Runners their first lead 7-0.

Vandals running back Justin Parkins ball and the Vandals offense took over.

In their first offensive possession, busted through the ‘Runners defense UTSA safety Tristen Wade stole Idaho quarterback Logan Bushnell ral- for a huge 16-yard gain on the ground Idaho’s momentum when he interlied his teammates starting with a 15- and a facemask penalty on the ‘Runners cepted Vandals quarterback Taylor yard pass to Justin Veltung. On the next defense put the Vandals on the UTSA Davis’ pass at the UTSA 17-yard line. play, Bushnell fired a 19-yard bomb to 36-yard line. However, Idaho’s offense Dodging past Idaho’s offensive players receiver Roman Runner and put the couldn’t break through the ‘Runners Wade was eventually brought down at Vandals inside Roadrunners territory. defense and settled for a 51-yard field the UTSA 35-yard line.

The ‘Runners defense crushed the goal from Trey Farguhar putting the Soza led the ‘Runners offense with Vandals momentum when Idaho run- Vandals on the board 10-3 with 1:17 an aerial assault when he completed ning back Ryan Bass fumbled the ball left in the first quarter, and those were a 21-yard pass to receiver Earon Holand UTSA defensive tackle Ferrington the only points Idaho scored in the mes. On the next play Soza launched Macon recovered it. first half. a 31-yard pass to running back OkotThe ‘Runners almost gave away UTSA’s rushing attack terrorized cha that put the ‘Runners on the Idaho possession when Idaho safety Gary the Vandals defense thanks to run- 10-yard line. At the 1:45 mark, Ianno Walker forced and recovered a fumble ning backs Evans Okotcha, Glasco and booted a 24-yard field goal to put the from UTSA receiver Seth Grubb at the quarterback Soza. At the 7:05 mark, ‘Runners 17 points ahead of the home Idaho 46 yard-line. The play was ne- Glasco propelled into the endzone for team, 20-3, and the ‘Runners went into gated due to Idaho defensive end Ben- a three-yard rushing touchdown, and the halftime break with that lead. son Mayowa who was charged with an the ‘Runners went up 17-3.

At the start of the second half, roles offsides penalty.

Idaho tried to close in on the ‘Run- completely reversed from the second quarter, as the Vandals shutdown the ‘Runners offense and did all the scoring. At the 7:24 mark, Idaho quarterback Taylor Davis whipped a 10-yard touchdown pass to receiver Mike Scott. The ‘Runners lead was cut down to 10 points after Scott’s touchdown reception, 20-10.

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a 12-yard touchdown pass. The third quarter ended with Idaho trailing UTSA by three points 20-17.

At the start of the fourth quarter, the ‘Runners defense halted Idaho forcing them to punt.

But when the punt team snapped the ball, Idaho punter Bobby Cowan completed a short pass to receiver Camryn Harris. Harris turned up field and sprinted 64 yards before he was tackled by the shocked UTSA kick return team.

Vandals kicker Farquhar tied the game up with a 22-yard field goal with 12:27 left in regulation. The Idaho players’ confidence was skyhigh after coming back from a 17-point deficiet at halftime. The ‘Runners turned to their quarterback to get them back on track.

In their first possession of the fourth quarter, Soza whipped a 50-yard pass to receiver Brandon Freeman. Soza followed up that incredible pass with a 21-yard bomb to Okotcha that put the Runners in the Idaho redzone. On the next play, Soza smashed through the Vandals defense for his second rushing touchdown and seized the lead 27-20 for the ‘Runners at 9:41 mark.

The UTSA defense stopped the Vandals offense in three plays and forced them to punt. ‘Runners safety Nic Johnston sliced through Idaho’s blockers and deflected the punt.

Every player was scrambling to recover the tumbling football and eventually the ‘Runners would take over on the Idaho 21-yard line. Just a few plays later, Soza sprinted through the Vandals defense untouched for his third rushing touchdown of the game with just 7:05 left in the game.

With plenty of time left in the fourth quarter, Davis rallied the Vandals offense once again. Idaho running back Todd Handley busted through the ‘Runners defense for a huge 25-yard gain and Handley was finally pushed out at the 50-yard line. Handley pushed the Vandals further into ‘Runners territory by catching a 27-yard pass from Davis. With the UTSA defense briefly demoralized, Davis hurled a 34-yard pass to a wide-open Scott in the endzone and closing UTSA’s lead to one touchdown, 34-27, with 5:04 left in regulation.

Soza and the UTSA offense was stalled by the Vandals defense and were forced to punt. Vandals receiver Justin Veltung positioned himself for a routine catch but the ball bounced a two yards in front of him. The ball bounced up and hit Veltung’s hands, and rolled away from him. Three UTSA players pounced on the ball and recovered it to end Idaho’s hope of one more offensive drive, and the Runners left Idaho with a 34-27 victory.

The final game of the season is the highly anticipated I-35 rivalry home game against the Texas State Bobcats.

This will be the first time Texas State and UTSA’s football programs will face each other. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m., Nov. 24 at the Alamodome.

File Photo

Rex Castillo

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SPORTS RECAP UTSA

Women’s Basketball Friday, Nov. 16 Texas-A&M Corpus Christi

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UTSA 53 Sunday, Nov. 18 UTSA 36 Wichita State

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Volleyball WAC Player of the Year McKenzie Adams WAC Libero of the Year Annie Kunes WAC First Team McKenzie Adams (UTSA) Allison Baker (Idaho) Meredith Hays (New Mexico State) Colleen King (Denver) Faimie Kingsley (Denver) Paige Neves (Utah State) Mary Alice O’Reilly (San Jose State) Rachel Orr (Utah State) Alyssa Schultz (Idaho) Desiree Scott (New Mexico State) Shay Sorensen (Utah State) Josseyln White (Utah State)

WAC Second Team Elle Brainard (Utah State) Amari Deardorff (Texas State) Kaytlyn Dill (Seattle U) Taylor Gross (UT-Arlington) Ashlee Hilbun (Texas State) Brandy Huskey (UTSA) Annie Kunes (UTSA) Michaela Leonard (San Jose State) Lauren Loerch (New Mexico State) Alex Sele (Idaho) Kaitlyn Van Hoff (Utah State) Whitney Walls (UTSA)

WAC All-Freshman Team Elle Brainard (Utah State) Annie Kunes (UTSA) Michaela Leonard (San Jose State) Katelyn Peterson (Idaho) Kylie Schott (UTSA) Michele Swope (Denver)

2012 WAC Volleyball Tournament Quarterfinals #3 UTSA defeats #6 San Jose State (3 sets - 0 sets) #2 Idaho defeats #7 Texas State (3 sets - 1 set) #4 New Mexico State defeats #5 Denver (3 sets - 0 sets) #1 Utah State defeats #8 UT-Arlington (3 sets - 1 set)

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November 20, 2012

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The Paisano

Sports

9 Roadrunners triumph over early deficit for home victory November 20, 2012

Rex Castillo Sports Editor

The Roadrunners men’s basketball team defeated the University of South Carolina Upstate (USC Upstate) Spartans 67-59 on Saturday, Nov. 17 at the Convocation Center. The win improved UTSA’s overall record to 3-1.

“This was a very good and hardfought win for our program,” Head Coach Brooks Thompson said. “Upstate is talented and well-coached and they execute very well. They are very hard to guard.”

“I was a little disappointed in our start. I thought we were sluggish, but we had several guys step up and make plays late in the first half to get us back into the game. We carried that over into the second half, and I was pleased with that,” Thompson said.

The Spartans surprised the ‘Runners early in the game with a full-court press defense that focused on containing UTSA’s speedy point guard Michael Hale III. The defensive plan was effectively helped the Spartans jump to a 15-4 lead with 7:30 left to play in the first half.

Things only got worse for the home team when Spartans Torrey Craig nailed a three-point shot at the 5:20 mark which extended USC Upstate’s lead to 14 points, 28-14. The Spartans would score 13 points off UTSA’s 12 turnovers in the first half.

“They [USC Upstate] did a great job taking the ball out of Hale’s hands,” said Thompson. “Our guys aren’t used to getting the ball and attacking the defense, and it put us on our heels.”

Hale and the ‘Runners offense appeared lethargic and confused against the Spartans full court press, but eventually, UTSA exposed weaknesses in USC Upstate’s defense. UTSA’s energy changed when forward Tyler Wood took a play out of Head Football Coach Larry Coker’s playbook and completed a full-court pass to a sprinting ‘Runners guard Kannon Burrage. Burrage received Wood’s pass like a ‘Runners wide receiver and completed an un-

Aly Gonzales/The Paisano

sports@paisano-online.com

Point guard Michael Hale III recorded seven points, five assists and five rebounds in the Roadrunners comeback victory against USC Upstate.

contested layup.

From that moment, UTSA’s offense exploded with an 11-3 run, with multiple three-point shots from Burrage, forward Jordan Sims and Hyjii Thomas.

By halftime, the Roadrunners cut the Spartans’ lead to only four points, 29-25. The ‘Runners looked calm and confident towards the end of the half.

“We played that bad in the first half and to be down only by four, we knew we had the game and just needed to step up our play in the second half,” UTSA forward Jeromie Hill said.

UTSA’s new found confidence propelled them to eventually take the lead.

Hill stole the ball on the defensive end and dribbled the length of the court for a short jump shot, giving UTSA a one-

point lead, 32-31.

The lead would exchange hands between the ‘Runners and Spartans in the next couple minutes, but UTSA

eventually pulled away behind their 54.5 shooting percentage in the second half. UTSA’s three-point shooting percentage jumped to 50 percent in

the second half compared to their 33 percent in the first half.

“Everyone is on the same page,” Hill said. “Last year, we probably would have let that game go. When our backs are against the wall is when we are at our best.”

Burrage led UTSA with 19 points, hitting four of nine shots in the game and seven rebounds. Hill was right behind him in scoring with 13 points, hitting four of his 10 shots in the game and eight rebounds. The ‘Runners amped attitude allowed UTSA to outrebound the Spartans 37-26 for the game.

UTSA center Larry Wilkins added a strong physical presence underneath the boards. This home game was the first that Wilkins participated in since tearing his Achilles tendon last year.

Wilkins recorded four points, four rebounds, one assist and one steal against the Spartans.

“It feels amazing to be out here,” Wilkins said. “I thought it was an opportunity I wasn’t able to get, so it’s a blessing.”

“To have Larry [Wilkins] back is something special,” Hill said. “I think he’s more explosive and in better shape this year. He makes 6 feet-11-inch guys scared.”

The ‘Runners will face a tough month-long, six-game road trip. UTSA’s first stop is against the Brigham Young University (BYU) Cougars in Provo, Utah on Nov. 21.

Upcoming Games N o v. 2 1 - U T S A @ B Y U

“When our backs are against the wall is when we are at our best.”

Jeromie Hill UTSA forward

N o v. 2 9 - U T S A @ O r e g o n Dec. 1 - UTSA @ CSU Bakersfield Dec. 4 - UTSA @ Mississippi State Dec. 8 - UTSA @ USC Upstate D e c . 2 1 - U T S A @ Te x a s A & M Corpus Christi Dec. 29 - Utah State vs. UTSA

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The Paisano

November 20, 2012